Dental swaging device.



R. G. HOPK-INS. DENTAL SWAGING DEVICE.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY 13,1907.

l2 f L I I I -/3 PATENTED .MAR. 17, 1908. I

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ROBERT G. HOPKINS, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

DENTAL SWAGING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed May 13, 1907. Serial No. 373,367.

T '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT G. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Dental Swaging Device, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means of simple and inexpensive construction for shaping gold ferrules to form crowns for teeth.

A further object is to provide the swaging block base, and the soft metal forming blocks of such shape that only two of the soft metal crown forming blocks need be used, and when they are forced down into the swaging block base, they will cause the crown to fit accurately against the under surface of the tooth pattern, and also after the crown has been properly formed, the soft metal crown forming blocks may be removed from the swaging block base without the necessity of hammering upon the under surface of the soft metal crown forming blocks.

My invention consists in the construction of the swaging block base, and the soft metal crown forming blocks, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of the swaging block base. Fig. 2 shows a vertical sectional view of the two soft metal crown forming blocks. Fig. 3 shows a top or plan view' of the same. Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of the tooth pattern. Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of a gold ferrule for forming crowns. Fig. 6 shows a vertical sectional view of the complete device embodying my invention, with a tooth pattern and a gold ferrule in position therein, and Fig. 7 shows a like view, with the soft metal crown forming blocks in position after pressure has been applied to the top of them, to form a gold crown accurately fitted to the tooth pattern.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the swaging block base. This is made complete of a single piece of metal, and is provided with a recess at its top, and tapering toward its bottom the sides being arranged near their upper ends on nearly vertical lines, and being gradually curved inwardly to the bottom of the recess. The

reference numeral 11 indicates the body of one of the soft metal crown forming blocks. The outer contour of this block is shaped to fit the interior of the recess in the base 10, and the inner surface is flat and provided with a semi-cylindrical groove 12, extended from the top to a point near its bottom. The other block is of similar shape and size.

The reference numeral 18 is used to indicate a tooth pattern. This pattern is made by any of the well known processes now in general use, and is made of low fusible metal, so that after a gold crown is fitted to it, the pattern may be melted and run out of the gold crown.

The numeral 14 indicates a gold ferrule of the kind ordinarily used "for forming tooth crowns.

In practical use, I first place a ferrule 14 between two of the soft metal blocks 11 at the bottom of the semi-cylindrical openings 12 therein. I then place a tooth pattern in said ferrule, and then insert the soft metal blocks in the base 10 as shown in Fig. 6. I then apply pressure to the top of the soft metal blocks, preferably by the use of a hammer, and thereby force the metal to fit tightly around the pattern and ferrule, and thus form a gold crown upon the pattern. In this connection, it will be noted that on account of the shape of the sides of the base 10, the soft metal blocks will be forced upwardly against the bottom of the ferrule sufficiently to press the ferrule firmly against the pattern. hen the hammering process has been continued long enough to make the gold crown a complete replica of the pattern, I then invert the base 10 and permit the soft metal blocks to drop out. This they will readily do on account of the shape of the opening, as it is impossible for them to become wedged in such opening.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, therefor, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a swaging block base formed complete of a single piece of metal, and having a recess therein, circular in horizontal section, tapered from its upper toward its lower end, and having its sides arranged on nearly straight lines near its upper end, and gradually curved inwardly to almost horizontal lines at the bottom of the recess, and a number of soft metal crown forming blocks designed to receive a tooth pattern and a two soft metal crown forming blocks, each having its outer face shaped to fit the contour of the recess, and its inner face flat, and combination of a swaging block base formed provided with a semi-cylindrical groove exeomplete of a single piece of metal, and l1avl tended from its top to a point near its boting a recess therein circular in horizontal tom on its flat face. section, tapered from its upper toward its Des Moines, Iowa, April 20, 1907. lower end, and having its sides arranged on I ROBERT G. HOPKINS. nearly straight lines near its upper end, and l gradually curved inwardly to almost horizontal lines at the bottom of the recess, and

crown between them, and shaped to fit into I said recess.

2. In a device of the class described, the

Witnesses:

S. F. CHRIsTY, M. E. BENNETT. in 

